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When purchasing a home, consumers often analyze the home further than just the outward appearance. WalletHub released a report on Monday, reviewing the level of attractiveness for cities all over the U.S. to determine how attractive a home is to first-time homebuyers. The report found that Overland Park, Kansas is the best city for first-time buyers, while Compton, California was labeled as the worst city for first-time buyers.

Commentary is an ongoing series on theMReport.com that focuses on opinions, ideas, and insights from experts across mortgage banking. This advisory piece features Melissa Kozicki, director of compliance for the Mortgage Builder Division of Altisource, discussing the upcoming implementation of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule, and how mortgage bankers must put a plan in place to manage vendor liability and risk within the context of the new rule.

As the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act prepares reach its fifth anniversary, a new report found that although the majority of the rules set forth in this act have already been implemented by various federal regulated agencies, there are several reform rules that have yet to be enacted, including rules for executive compensation, derivatives, and consumer debt.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen had a busy week, making semi-annual appearances before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. In both hearings, Yellen addressed the subject of the much-anticipated federal funds range increase.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. reported a net income increase of 14 percent to $467 million available to common shareholders, according to the bank’s Q2 2015 earnings statement released Friday. Comerica reported that their Q2 2015 earnings reached $135 million, or $0.73 cents per share in their earnings statement also released on Friday. Last quarter, the bank reported a net income of $134 million and $151 million for the Q2 2014.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday published the first in a new series of monthly reports that highlight key trends found in the complaints the consumers submit to the Bureau. The monthly reports will provide the public and the marketplace with insight into the hundreds of thousands of complaints the CFPB receives from consumers on financial products and services.

Regulators are hindering much-needed competition in the banking industry and placing consumers and taxpayers at risk, according to a report released on Thursday from the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) titled "A Bird in the Hand and No Banks in the Bush." The report also noted that this lack of competition in banking furthers the same too-big-to-fail rationale that led to past bank bailouts.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently issued an advisory bulletin that offers guidance on Federal Home Loan Bank's (FHLBank) core mission achievement. The bulletin also describes how FHFA will assess the banks' core mission achievement, as well as FHFA's expectations about the content of the strategic plans for banks with core mission assets below specified levels.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen served as the lone witness in a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday titled "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy.” In the semiannual report to Congress, Yellen was questioned about the highly anticipated rate increase, among other topics such the overall state of the economy, inflation, employment, and monetary policy. She maintained her position on the uncertainty of the rate increase until further economic improvement occurs.

In an effort to bring diversity, inclusion, and equality to their forefront agency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released their Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) Strategic Plan for FY 2016 to FY 2018 on Tuesday. The plan is the result a strategic planning process to develop effective strategies to fulfill OMWI’s role in leading diversity and inclusion (D&I) and equal employment opportunity (EEO) efforts at the FHFA.